Volunteers Repairing Keansburg Homes Meet Lt. Gov and UMC Bishop

Volunteers meet NJ Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and A Future with Hope to Help Rebuild Houses in Honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Month

Ocean, NJ – Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno joined Bishop John Schol of the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey and volunteers from the states of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to work with A Future with Hope in repairing a Sandy damaged home in Keansburg in honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Month.

The volunteers working at the site were a part of the Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church Mission Team in Boonsboro, Maryland. The team has been working with A Future with Hope for the last two weeks and are staying at a host site in Highlands, NJ. United Methodist Church Mission Teams from Maryland have played a large part in New Jersey’s recovery. More than 25 different mission teams have volunteered with A Future with Hope in the last year.

The mayor of Keansburg Arthur Boden and the homeowner also were present for the day. The homeowner shared his experiences during the storm. He and his teenage son had to escape to the attic during the storm as nearly 3 feet of water submerged their house.

Lt. Governor Guadagno took a tour of the property with the homeowner, thanked the volunteers for their service to New Jersey and greeted the Bishop and the leaders of A Future with Hope. Bishop John Schol of Greater New Jersey spoke at the event and said, “Recovery takes a cooperative effort from government, relief organizations, town administrators, community organizations, the church and most importantly volunteers like those from Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church. No one group can do it alone.”

A Future with Hope is a nonprofit organization started by the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Church to lead relief and recovery efforts after Superstorm Sandy. Volunteers come from all over the United States to rebuild homes with A Future with Hope. The organization’s goal is to use 20,000 volunteers to help rebuild 300 to 500 homes and provide case management to affected families over the next 5 years.

Through the end of March, A Future with Hope has completed 36 homes and have an additional 51 homes under construction. They have completed work in 19 different communities including Atlantic City, Brick, Forked River, Highlands, Keansburg, Little Egg Harbor, Manahawkin, Ocean Gate, Union Beach and others. They have 13 hosts sites that can house 350 volunteers from out of state each week. To date, they have hosted more than 5,000 volunteers from 27 states.

Bishop John Schol leads The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey which has more than 580 churches and 50,000 regular worshipers throughout the region. We are a part of a world-wide denomination of more than 12 million members. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Bishop Schol and the leaders of the church realized the community would have significant long term recovery needs and created A Future with Hope to help in the state’s recovery. Since construction began in March 2013, A Future with Hope has become one of the leaders in recovery with active roles in 20 county long term recovery group and significant funding from the American Red Cross, Robin Hood Foundation, Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

A Future with Hope has the capacity to help even more homeowners in need of construction. Anyone in need should call their help line at 732-359-1012.